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Use caution when applying behavioural science to policy

Author

Listed:
  • Hans IJzerman

    (Université Grenoble Alpes
    Institut Universitaire de France)

  • Neil A. Lewis

    (Cornell University)

  • Andrew K. Przybylski

    (University of Oxford)

  • Netta Weinstein

    (University of Reading)

  • Lisa DeBruine

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Stuart J. Ritchie

    (King’s College London)

  • Simine Vazire

    (University of California, Davis
    University of Melbourne)

  • Patrick S. Forscher

    (Université Grenoble Alpes)

  • Richard D. Morey

    (Cardiff University)

  • James D. Ivory

    (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)

  • Farid Anvari

    (University of Southern Denmark)

Abstract

Social and behavioural scientists have attempted to speak to the COVID-19 crisis. But is behavioural research on COVID-19 suitable for making policy decisions? We offer a taxonomy that lets our science advance in ‘evidence readiness levels’ to be suitable for policy. We caution practitioners to take extreme care translating our findings to applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans IJzerman & Neil A. Lewis & Andrew K. Przybylski & Netta Weinstein & Lisa DeBruine & Stuart J. Ritchie & Simine Vazire & Patrick S. Forscher & Richard D. Morey & James D. Ivory & Farid Anvari, 2020. "Use caution when applying behavioural science to policy," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(11), pages 1092-1094, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:4:y:2020:i:11:d:10.1038_s41562-020-00990-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-00990-w
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sébastien Goudeau & Camille Sanrey & Arnaud Stanczak & Antony Manstead & Céline Darnon, 2021. "Why lockdown and distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to increase the social class achievement gap," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(10), pages 1273-1281, October.
    2. Burton-Chellew, Maxwell & West, Stuart, 2022. "The black box as a control for payoff-based learning in economic games," SocArXiv 5k4ez, Center for Open Science.
    3. Gordon Pennycook & David G. Rand, 2022. "Accuracy prompts are a replicable and generalizable approach for reducing the spread of misinformation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Florian Lange & Shimpei Iwasaki, 2020. "Validating the Pro-Environmental Behavior Task in a Japanese Sample," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-12, November.
    5. Martinelli, Mauro & Veltri, Giuseppe Alessandro, 2021. "Do cognitive styles affect vaccine hesitancy? A dual-process cognitive framework for vaccine hesitancy and the role of risk perceptions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    6. Grossmann, Igor & Rotella, Amanda A. & Hutcherson, Cendri & Sharpinskyi, Konstantyn & Varnum, Michael E. W. & Achter, Sebastian K. & Dhami, Mandeep & Guo, Xinqi Evie & Kara-Yakoubian, Mane R. & Mandel, 2023. "Insights into the accuracy of social scientists' forecasts of societal change," Other publications TiSEM c14f4a4a-b105-46b3-90f7-f, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Silvia Saccardo & Hengchen Dai & Maria A. Han & Sitaram Vangala & Juyea Hoo & Jeffrey Fujimoto, 2024. "Field testing the transferability of behavioural science knowledge on promoting vaccinations," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(5), pages 878-890, May.
    8. Elena Petrovskaya & David Zendle, 2022. "Predatory Monetisation? A Categorisation of Unfair, Misleading and Aggressive Monetisation Techniques in Digital Games from the Player Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 181(4), pages 1065-1081, December.
    9. Lucia A Reisch, 2021. "Shaping healthy and sustainable food systems with behavioural food policy [The impacts of dietary change on greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, and health: a systematic review]," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 48(4), pages 665-693.
    10. Tobia Spampatti & Ulf J. J. Hahnel & Evelina Trutnevyte & Tobias Brosch, 2024. "Psychological inoculation strategies to fight climate disinformation across 12 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(2), pages 380-398, February.
    11. Chan, Olivia S.K. & Lam, Wendy & Zhao, Shilin & Tun, Hein & Liu, Ping & Wu, Peng, 2024. "Why prescribe antibiotics? A systematic review of knowledge, tension, and motivation among clinicians in low-, middle- and high-income countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 345(C).

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